Jo Ellis — a decorated trans military pilot with over 15 years of service in the Virginia Army National Guard — is suing conservative influencer Matt Wallace after he falsely linked her to a deadly helicopter crash near Washington, D.C. The crash killed 67 people, but Ellis wasn’t anywhere near the cockpit — and now, she’s taking that fight from the skies to the courtroom.
“I want to hold this person accountable for what they did to me,” Ellis said in a statement. “It’s become too common that people can say horrible things about someone, profit at their expense, and get away with it.”
Viral Lies, Real-Life Threats
Wallace, who boasts 2.2 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), posted a photo of Ellis just a day after the tragic crash — claiming the pilot was transgender and suggesting she was responsible for the collision. The post exploded online, racking up millions of views, sparking harassment, and forcing Ellis into hiding with private armed security for her family.
And the hits kept coming. Wallace doubled down, posting even more inflammatory content, accusing Ellis of participating in what he grotesquely called “another trans terror attack.”
Ellis, who had no involvement in the crash and had never written the article Wallace accused her of publishing, released a “proof of life” video to clear her name. “It is insulting to the families to try to tie this to some sort of political agenda,” she said. “They don’t deserve that. I don’t deserve this.”
Fighting Back — For Herself and Her Community
Represented by the Equality Legal Action Fund, Ellis is suing Wallace for defamation — a case that not only defends her reputation but sends a message to the LGBTQ community: enough is enough.
“The damage caused to Plaintiff by Defendant was instantaneous and immense,” the lawsuit states, highlighting how Ellis, once a private citizen, woke up to find herself the second most-trending topic in the country — with 90,000 posts dragging her name into a tragedy she had nothing to do with.
Ellis now faces a grim new reality. “I feared for the safety of my family and myself and had to arrange private armed security,” she said. “When I go out in public I have to look over my shoulder now.”
A Dangerous Pattern for Trans Americans
Sadly, Ellis’ story is part of a larger trend where trans people are falsely blamed for mass tragedies, particularly after shootings or acts of violence. Since 2022, trans Americans have been the target of baseless claims in incidents from Texas to Iowa.
In this case, the baseless attack on Ellis came amid a backdrop of anti-trans policies from the Trump administration, including a military ban on openly trans service members. It’s a chilling reminder of how quickly political rhetoric turns into real-world harm.
But Ellis isn’t backing down. Any damages she wins from this lawsuit? She plans to donate them to the families of the crash victims.
Because that’s what strength looks like. That’s what a real American hero does.
And for the LGBTQ community, Ellis’ stand is a powerful warning to anyone looking to weaponize lies: think twice before coming for us. We fight back.